The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-09-15

stances, to cheer the woman up, and by
and by she gave over crying and seemed
a bit more hopeful. She explained that
she had removed to the territory from
GAINESVILLE, Ark, three years before,
being widow with one son. The son
had died within the year, and the brother,
who was an old bachelor, and not in good
health, had come on to remain until the
place could be sold out. A Kickapoo
buck had taken a great fancy to the
woman and wanted to marry her, and
her indignant refusal had called down
the raid made that day. Her story filled
me with Indignation, and as the night
came on | was terribly irpaiient for
Patton to return. About lialf-past .
o'clock heard the gullop of horses, and
was ready to welcome my partner, but
before they bad come in sight the widow
sprang up in great terror, and cried
out:
"Oh, sir, they are the Indians who
have been on my trail! Don't let them
take me away! Let me hide in the
wagon!'
sin with you quick, and they will
have to kill me before they lay hands on
YOU" replied, and she disappeared be-
meath the cover with astonishing celebrity.
The gallop came nearer and nearer,
and presently voice hailed me:
1.-THE camp thar-helle!"
"Who is it?'
Friends"
"Come in.
With that half breed and Kickapoo
came riding into camp on horses which
had neither saddle nor blanket. Both
men looked savage and sullen, and were
well armed The half breed could speak
very good English, and when he had
come to halt and looked around, he
said:
eve are after the woman who camt
into your camp few hours ago. l sec
her horse over there"
"By what authority do you demand
her?'
"None of your business. We have
come for her, and we mean to have her. "
''Do you mean that you will take her
by force?"
81 do; and let me give you piece of
advice. | see you are tenderfoot.
Don't put on too many airs in this coun-
try. It's great place to have ones
wings cropped in hurry. Don't at.
tempt any foolishness with us, or you'll
never know what hurt you"
had my Winchester in hand and two
reviewers in my belt. Had been o hot
tempered man, there would have been
some shooting before he had concluded
his bombastic speech. / am slow to
anger, especially when human life may
pay the forfeit, and heard him through
without being rolled The woman was
hidden away in the wagon, and had not
revealed her presence to them by word
or move.
IF the woman chooses to 60 with you,
well and good" answered, as looked
the fellow over by the light of the camp
fire. IF she does not you cannot take
her."
"Oh we can't, ell? You crow pretty
loud for spring chicken. Well, ask the
wench to make choice"
The wagon was about ten PAGES from
the fire, and in the shadow, although not
so much so that could not see it pretty
plainly. l had made step toward it
when | saw black object under the
wheels, and, supposing it to be wolf, /
raised my gun and took snap shot,
caring only to send bullet near enough
to drive it away. The object disappeared
with the echoes of the report, and as |
walked along to the wagon the two men,
who had not dismomted, accompanied
me. Standing within five feet of the
vehicle called to the woman and asked
if she desired to go with the men, and
she replied:
"Oh! sir, save me from them, even il
you have to shoot me.
"But you've got to comet" shouted
the halfbreed.
''She shall not go!'' shouted at him.
Il give you two villains sixty seconds in
which to leave camp. Now gor'
They were close together, and my rifle
covered both. They looked straight at
me for fifteen or twenty seconds, and
then turned and rode away in the dark
ness. ] followed them for 100 yards,
when they urged their horses to galop,
and rode to the north without looking
back. / stood and looked after them
until could no longer hear the beat of
their horses hoofs, and l felt rather
proud of my nerve in driving them
away. 1t did not occur to me until next
day that either or both of them could
have got the drop on me up to the time l
raised my rifle, and that while they
were making threats of what they would
do they left their rifles lying across their
saddles. They simply permitted me to
force them out of camp at the muzzie of
my Winchester, and that was part of
their plan. When returned to the fire